squammy en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /ˈskweɪm.mi/ (UK, US)
- /ˈskwaːm.mi/ (Philippines)
- /ˈskwɑːm.mi/ (US)
Etymology
From squamous + -y, where -ous was elided to extract the root. The reduplicated ⟨m⟩ is akin to runny, brimmy, etc. The Philippine slang sense is a semantic loan from Tagalog iskuwater, itself from Philippine English squatter (“poor vagrant; illegal informal settler”) due to resemblance of the first syllable. Compare Tagalog iskuwami.
Meanings
- (dated) Synonym of squamous (“Covered with, made of, or resembling scales; scaly.”).
- (Philippines, colloquial, slang) trashy; classless; unrefined; crass; uncultured; vulgar; uncouth (lacking refinement)
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| squammier | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| squammiest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| skwammy | Philippines, alternative, slang | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Synonyms
squamated · squamate · scaled · squarrose · squamous · furfuraceous · squamose · scaly · squamoid · squamiferous · squamous · squamulose · squamous · scarious · squamulose